Use of antrodia cinnamomea for increasing alcohol metabolism or/and hangover

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a usage of a Antrodia cinnamomea powder for preparation of a composition for dispelling the effects of alcohol, which means that by administering an effective amount of the Antrodia cinnamomea powder disclosed in the invention to an subject, is capable of accelerating metabolism of alcohol and/or acetaldehyde in the subject&#39;s body, reducing a content of alcohol and/or acetaldehyde in blood, and shortening the time of the subject generating intoxicated reaction in order to achieve an efficacy of dispelling the effects of alcohol.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention

The invention relates to a second use of Antrodia cinnamomea, and moreparticularly to a use of Antrodia cinnamomea for increasing alcoholmetabolism or/and hangover.

Related Art

Taiwanofungus camphoratus, with a commonly name of Antrodia cinnamomea,also known as Antrodia camphoratus, cinnamomum fungus, fungus grown in acavity, and godsent fungus, is a medicinal fungus belonging to theFomitopsidaceae Antrodia, and only native to Taiwan. The medicinalphysiological activity of Antrodia cinnamomea is very extensive andsignificant. At least 78 species have been isolated and identified, ofwhich 39 are triterpenes, and 31 of which have confirmed their chemicalstructures. The chemical compounds contained in Antrodia cinnamomea canbe roughly classified into polysaccharides, triterpenes and sterols,benzenoids, benzoquinone derivatives, maleic acid and succinic acidderivatives; and according to research, Antrodia cinnamomea has avariety of efficacies on subject health promotion, such asantibacterial, antiviral, antineoplastic, and enhancing organismimmunity.

In addition to drinking alcohol as one of the ways for modem people torelieve stress, it is also a culture in social life. Generally speaking,moderate intake of alcohol can relax people's mind, but intakingexcessive alcohol will cause discomfort such as dizziness, vomiting, lowcognitive ability, nausea, and low mobility, and it may continue toaffect the life of the next day. In the long run, it will also haveadverse effects on health. At present, there are many products on themarket that claim to have an efficacy of dispelling the effects ofalcohol, for example, by intaking fructose to increase alcoholmetabolism. However, using fructose to increase alcohol metabolic ratewill not only increase the content of uric acid and lactic acid, butalso increase the risk of suffering from metabolic syndrome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A main object of the invention is to provide a secondary use of Antrodiacinnamomea, which is capable of reducing a content of alcohol and/oracetaldehyde in blood, promoting alcohol metabolism, and achievingefficacies of dispelling the effects of alcohol preventively andtherapeutically.

Another object of the invention is to provide a use of Antrodiacinnamomea for dispelling the effects of alcohol and/or increasingalcohol metabolism, which is not hepatotoxic and is capable of improvingthe dehydrogenase, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase or/and SOD enzymeactivity, in order to achieve efficacies of increasing alcoholmetabolism, lowering alcohol concentration in the blood and treating orpreventing acute alcoholism or other liver disease caused by an elevatedalcohol concentration in blood.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, this inventiondisclosed a method for enhancing the metabolism of alcohol in a subjectcomprising administering an effective amount of Antrodia cinnamomeapowder or composition thereof to a subject in need of enhancing themetabolism of alcohol. It means that by administering an effectiveamount of the Antrodia cinnamomea powder to the subject who is in a needof dispelling the effects of alcohol can accelerating metabolism ofalcohol and/or acetaldehyde, so that it can prevent or reduce theeffects of alcohol or uncomfortable feeling from hangover efficiently.

Furthermore, in one embodiment, the invention disclosed a method forlowering the ethanol concentration in blood of a subject comprisingadministering an effective amount of Antrodia cinnamomea powder orcomposition thereof to a subject in need of reducing an adverse effectcaused by an elevated alcohol concentration in blood, whereby theadministration of Antrodia cinnamomea powder or composition thereof forlowering the ethanol concentration in blood.

According to the Antrodia cinnamomea powder or composition thereof hasdual efficacies of dispelling the effects of alcohol preventively andtherapeutically, which means that when the subject takes the compositionfor dispelling the effects of alcohol before drinking alcohol, thecomposition for dispelling the effects of alcohol has an efficacy ofdispelling the effects of alcohol preventively; and when the subjecttakes the composition for dispelling the effects of alcohol afterdrinking alcohol, the composition for dispelling the effects of alcoholexerts an efficacy of dispelling the effects of alcohol therapeutically.

In the other embodiment, the invention disclosed the method for treatingor preventing acute alcoholism or liver disease caused by an elevatedplasma alcohol level in a subject comprising administering an effectiveamount of Antrodia cinnamomea powder or composition thereof to a subjectwho has an elevated plasma alcohol level, whereby the administration ofAntrodia cinnamomea powder or composition thereof for increasing alcoholdehydrogenase, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase or SOD enzyme activity.

For example, when an subject intakes excessive alcohol and has symptomsof acute alcoholism, by administering an effective amount of theAntrodia cinnamomea powder disclosed in the invention is capable ofmetabolizing the alcohol in the subject's body in a short time.

In other words, the Antrodia cinnamomea powder can be used to prepare analcohol metabolism accelerant or an SOD enzyme activity accelerant. Andif the Antrodia cinnamomea powder is prepared to be the alcoholmetabolism accelerant, it is capable of achieving efficacies ofpromoting alcohol metabolism and avoiding accumulation in the body byenhancing an activity of alcohol dehydrogenase and/or acetaldehydedehydrogenase in the body; and if Antrodia cinnamomea powder is preparedto be SOD enzyme activity accelerant, when an subject takes an effectiveamount of the Antrodia cinnamomea powder after being intoxicated, an SODenzyme activity in the body will be increased, which is not only capableof achieving an efficacy of promoting decomposition of alcohol, but alsoreducing an oxidative stress at the same time, in order to achieve anefficacy of protecting cells.

In the embodiments, the Antrodia cinnamomea powder can be made to acomposition, such as a pharmaceutical preparation, a beverage, or a foodproduct. Furthermore, the composition can be an oral or parenteralsolution, a syrup, a powder, a capsule, a tablet, a beverage, a foodproduct, or a food supplement.

In another embodiment, the effective amount of the Antrodia cinnamomeapowder is at least 79.5 mg/day for an adult.

In the embodiments, the Antrodia cinnamomea powder is produced bycrushing and grinding the Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium; for example, theAntrodia cinnamomea powder is made according to following steps of:

a. acquiring a Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder;

b. mixing the Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder with a grease in apredetermined weight ratio to form a Antrodia cinnamomea oil-phasemycelium powder;

c. preparing an aqueous-phase solution containing a water and a solute,the solute is selected from a group consisting of water-soluble salts,sugars, sugar esters and colloids, for example, the aqueous-phasesolution is composed of water, sucrose fatty acid esters and dextrinfibers;

d. performing a microemulsification procedure on a Antrodia cinnamomeaoil-phase solution and the aqueous-phase solution to obtain a Antrodiacinnamomea micro-emulsified product; and e. freezing and drying theAntrodia cinnamomea micro-emulsified product to obtain a water-solubleAntrodia cinnamomea powder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, features, and achieved efficacies of the invention can beunderstood from the description, drawings and tables of the followingpreferred embodiments, in which:

FIG. 1 shows average intoxication time of mice in each group in a firsttest of dispelling the effects of alcohol;

FIG. 2 shows average intoxication time of the mice in each of the groupsin a second test of dispelling the effects of alcohol;

FIG. 3 shows alcohol contents in the blood of the mice in each of thegroups in the second test of dispelling the effects of alcohol;

FIG. 4 shows acetaldehyde contents in the blood of the mice in each ofthe groups in the second test of dispelling the effects of alcohol;

FIG. 5 is staining diagrams of liver section tissues of the mice in eachof the groups in an alcohol metabolism test;

FIG. 6 shows the results of detecting SOD enzyme activity in the micelivers processed with different treatments; and

FIG. 7 shows the results of detecting alcohol concentration in thebreath of subjects in each group.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Intoxication rates of mice described in the following examples are basedon whether the mice have lost righting reflex as the standard. Detectionsteps are as follows: after the mice are fed with alcohol, put them intoa cage with their backs facing downward, if the mice keep a posture withtheir backs facing downward for more than 30 seconds, it is judged thatthe mice have lost their righting reflex and are intoxicated.

Example 1: Sample Preparation

Sample 1: water-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powder, wherein thewater-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powder is a powdery extract obtainedby supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, emulsification and drying ofAntrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder, and after testing, it is confirmedthat it contains the same content of triterpenoids as wild Antrodiacinnamomea.

For example, the Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder is processed withsupercritical carbon dioxide extraction and then concentrated to obtaina paste-like supercritical Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium extract, thepaste-like supercritical Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium extract is mixedwith grease substances in a weight ratio of approximately 1: 6-7 at atemperature of 70° C. to obtain a Antrodia cinnamomea oil-phasesolution. An aqueous-phase solution is prepared, which contains water,dextrin fibers and sucrose fatty acid esters, and is mixed in a weightratio of approximately 357-358:72:1. After the Antrodia cinnamomeaoil-phase solution and the aqueous-phase solution are processed with amicroemulsification procedure, freeze-dried and sieved to obtain awater-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powder.

Sample 2: Commercially available Hovenia dulcis functional drink,containing 1.3% of Hovenia dulcis extract concentrate.

Sample 3: Commercially available patented Hovenia dulcis extract (KoreaLifetree Biotech Co., Ltd.).

Example 2: Preliminary Test

Three groups of mice, with 8 mice in each of the groups, areintragastrically administered with doses of 0.3 mL/20 g, 0.35 mL/20 g,and 0.4 mL/20 g of alcohol solution (58% Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor-sorghum)respectively, in order to observe an amount of alcohol required to causelost of righting reflex (LOR) in the mice in each of the groups and noneof the mice die.

It is found that a few of the mice die when 0.4 mL/20 g of alcoholsolution is administered; none of the mice die when 0.35 mL/20 g ofalcohol solution is administered, intoxication rate is 100%, and anaverage intoxication time is 794.0±38.02 minutes; none of the mice diewhen 0.3 mL/20 g of alcohol solution is administered, and intoxicationrate is 25%; therefore, the mice are intragastrically administered with0.35 mL/20 g of alcohol solution in the subsequent tests of dispellingthe effects of alcohol.

Example 3: Test (1) of Dispelling the Effects of Alcohol

The mice are randomly divided into groups, wherein:

the first group is a blank group, and is administered with an equalvolume of physiological saline;

the second group is a water-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powder low-dosegroup, and is administered with a dose of 16.3 mg/kg;

the third group is a water-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powdermedium-dose group, and is administered with a dose of 32.8 mg/kg;

the fourth group is a water-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powder high-dosegroup, and is administered with a dose of 49.2 mg/kg;

the fifth group is a Hovenia dulcis functional drink group, and isadministered with a dose of 3.38 g/kg;

the sixth group of a patented Hovenia dulcis extract group, and isadministered with a dose of 504.3 mg/kg; and

the seventh group is a mixed group, which is administered with Hoveniadulcis functional drink (dose 3.38 g/kg) and water-soluble Antrodiacinnamomea powder (dose 16.3 mg/kg) at the same time.

The mice in each of the groups are fasted for 12 hours, and then aretreated according to the above-mentioned conditions in each of thegroups. After 30 minutes, all the mice in each of the groups except thefirst group are intragastrically administered with 0.35 mL/20 g of 58%Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor by body weight, intoxication time (meaning thetime from being conscious to lost of righting reflex) of the mice ineach of the groups is observed and recorded in order to calculate andobtain intoxication rates within 24 hours, wherein whether the mice areintoxicated or not is based on whether the mice have lost rightingreflex as the standard.

It is found that the intoxication rates of the mice in each of thegroups are 100%, and none of the mice die. From the results in FIG. 1,it can be known that an average intoxication time of the mice in thefirst group is 794.0±38.02 minutes; average intoxication time of themice in the second group to the fourth group is 562.5±38.03 minutes,517±41.16 minutes and 437.5±49.27 minutes respectively; an averageintoxication time of the mice in the fifth group is 546.38±53.42minutes; an average intoxication time of the mice in the sixth group is382.5±29.58 minutes; and an average intoxication time of the mice in theseventh group is 338.37±64.18 minutes.

Although the results in FIG. 1 show that administration of the patentedHovenia dulcis extract has a shorter intoxication time, its dose is504.3 mg/day; while at a low dose of 16.3 mg/day the water-solubleAntrodia cinnamomea powder disclosed in the invention already producesan effect of dispelling the effects of alcohol (compared to the firstgroup); and comparing the administered dose of the sixth group with thatof the second group, it can be known that when an administered dose ofthe water-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powder disclosed in the inventionis only 1/30 times of that of the patented Hovenia dulcis extract, thewater-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powder is already capable of achievingan effect of dispelling the effects of alcohol, which means that thewater-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powder disclosed in the invention iscapable of achieving an effect of dispelling the effects of alcoholsignificantly better than the prior art. If the water-soluble Antrodiacinnamomea powder is to be applied to the human body, calculatedaccording to conversion standard of administered doses of human andmice, for adults of 60 kg, 2460 mg/day of patented Hovenia dulcisextract must be administered to achieve an efficacy of dispelling theeffects of alcohol preventively, while administration of only 79.5mg/day of the water-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powder disclosed in theinvention is already capable of achieving an efficacy of dispelling theeffects of alcohol preventively. It can be known from the above resultsthat an efficacy of dispelling the effects of alcohol preventively canbe effectively achieved by administering the water-soluble Antrodiacinnamomea powder disclosed in the invention, and an effect ofdispelling the effects of alcohol preventively is improved withincreasing dose; and after mixing the water-soluble Antrodia cinnamomeapowder disclosed in the invention with the commercially availableHovenia dulcis functional drink, an effect of dispelling the effects ofalcohol preventively can be improved substantially.

Example 4: Test (2) of Dispelling the Effects of Alcohol

The mice in each of the groups are fasted for 12 hours as described inExample 3, and all the mice are intragastrically administered with 0.35mL/20 g of 58% Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor by body weight. After 30 minutes,the first group is administered with an equal volume of physiologicalsaline, the mice in the second group to the seventh group areadministered in a one-time administration; then sober time (meaning thetime from lost of righting reflex to being conscious) of the mice ineach of the groups is observed, and 0, 60, 120, 240 and 360 minutesafter being fed with alcohol, blood is collected to determine contentsof alcohol and acetaldehyde in the blood, the results are shown in FIG.2 to FIG. 4, Table 1 and Table 2.

In this experiment, alcohol solution (0.35 mL/20 g) is administeredfirst, and then drug is administered. Intoxication rates of each of thegroups are 100%, and none of the mice die. From the results in FIG. 2,it can be known that an average intoxication time of the mice in thefirst group is 740.5±30.59 minutes; average intoxication time of themice in the second group to the fourth group is 541.37±40.63 minutes,494.25±46.29 minutes and 438±18.96 minutes respectively; an averageintoxication time of the mice in the fifth group is 495.38±56.37minutes; an average intoxication time of the mice in the sixth group is366.5±44.78 minutes; and an average intoxication time of the mice in theseventh group is 322.63±53.51 minutes. The results show that thewater-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powder disclosed in the invention doeshave an effect of dispelling the effects of alcohol therapeutically, andas described in the foregoing examples, the water-soluble Antrodiacinnamomea powder disclosed in the invention is capable of achieving anefficacy of dispelling the effects of alcohol under low-dose condition.

From the results in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, Table 1 and Table 2, it can beknown that alcohol and acetaldehyde contents of the mice in the alcoholgroup that are only administered with alcohol solution orally are1.48±0.02 mg/dL and 8.09±0.98 mU/mL respectively at 120 minutes, thereis a significant increase; and from the results of the second group tothe fourth group, it can be known that the second group to the fourthgroup that are administered with the water-soluble Antrodia cinnamomeapowder disclosed in the invention after being administered with alcoholorally, alcohol and acetaldehyde contents measured in the blood of themice respectively show a downward trend at 120 minutes. Specifically,alcohol and acetaldehyde contents measured in the blood of the mice inthe second group at 120 minutes are 1.07±0.05 mg/dL and 6.59±0.57 mU/mLrespectively; alcohol and acetaldehyde contents measured in the blood ofthe mice in the third group at 120 minutes are 1.03±0.03 mg/dL and6.24±1.02 mU/mL respectively; and alcohol and acetaldehyde contentsmeasured in the blood of the mice in the fourth group at 120 minutes are0.80±0.03 mg/dL and 5.73±1.01 mU/mL respectively. 120 minutes afterbeing fed with alcohol, alcohol and acetaldehyde contents measured inthe blood of the mice in the fifth group are 1.19±0.03 mg/dL and6.91±0.89 mU/mL respectively; alcohol and acetaldehyde contents measuredin the blood of the mice in the sixth group are 0.70±0.04 mg/dL and5.34±1.49 mU/mL respectively; and alcohol and acetaldehyde contentsmeasured in the blood of the mice in the seventh group are 0.62±0.04mg/dL and 4.64±0.84 mU/mL respectively.

It can be known from the above results that the mice disclosed in thisexample are indeed acute alcoholic mice after being fed with alcohol,and administration of the water-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powderdisclosed in the invention is capable of effectively increasing anefficiency of dispelling the effects of alcohol and shortening the timerequired for the mice to be sobered from alcohol, and as an administereddose increases, the time required for dispelling the effects of alcoholis shortened; blood test results more clearly confirm that thewater-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powder disclosed in the invention iscapable of metabolizing alcohol and acetaldehyde in blood, and reducingalcohol and acetaldehyde contents in blood.

TABLE 1 alcohol content (mg/dL) in the blood of the mice (acutealcoholic mice) in each of the groups at different times after differenttreatments Time after feeding with alcohol (minutes) 0 60 120 240 360Group Alcohol content in blood (mg/dL) First group 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ±0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 Alcohol group 0.01 ± 0.01 1.17± 0.03 1.48 ± 0.02 1.24 ± 0.10 1.06 ± 0.03 Second group 0.02 ± 0.02 0.58± 0.03 1.07 ± 0.05 0.85 ± 0.03 0.44 ± 0.03 Third group 0.01 ± 0.01 0.53± 0.03 1.03 ± 0.03 0.74 ± 0.02 0.37 ± 0.02 Fourth group 0.01 ± 0.01 0.51± 0.07 0.80 ± 0.03 0.49 ± 0.01 0.27 ± 0.02 Fifth group 0.01 ± 0.02 0.66± 0.03 1.19 ± 0.03 0.95 ± 0.07 0.65 ± 0.03 Sixth group 0.01 ± 0.01 0.46± 0.04 0.70 ± 0.04 0.39 ± 0.02 0.21 ± 0.03 Seventh group 0.01 ± 0.010.41 ± 0.02 0.62 ± 0.04 0.31 ± 0.02 0.16 ± 0.02

TABLE 2 acetaldehyde content (mg/dL) in the blood of the mice (acutealcoholic mice) in each of the groups at different times after differenttreatments Time after feeding with alcohol (minutes) 0 60 120 240 360Group Acetaldehyde content in blood (mg/dL) First group 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 Alcohol group 0.36 ± 0.153.57 ± 0.77 8.09 ± 0.98 6.78 ± 0.53 5.51 ± 0.41 Second group 0.33 ± 0.183.16 ± 0.54 6.59 ± 0.57 5.76 ± 1.50 3.78 ± 1.22 Third group 0.41 ± 0.242.94 ± 0.94 6.24 ± 1.02 5.49 ± 0.71 3.54 ± 0.78 Fourth group 0.37 ± 0.262.70 ± 0.79 5.73 ± 1.01 4.87 ± 1.52 3.31 ± 0.41 Fifth group 0.51 ± 0.263.36 ± 1.75 6.91 ± 0.89 6.01 ± 1.02 4.04 ± 0.80 Sixth group 0.60 ± 0.282.37 ± 0.49 5.34 ± 1.49 4.45 ± 1.74 3.08 ± 0.87 Seventh group 0.34 ±0.27 2.23 ± 1.04 4.64 ± 0.84 3.65 ± 0.37 2.70 ± 0.94

Example 5: Test (3) of Dispelling the Effects of Alcohol

A test method of this example is basically the same as that of example3, except that the mice are randomly divided into four groups, each ofthe groups with 10 mice, wherein;

the first group is a normal group, and is administered with an equalvolume of physiological saline;

the second group is a Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder low-dosegroup, and is administered with a dose of 82.5 mg/kg;

the third group is a Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder high-dosegroup, and is administered with a dose of 165 mg/kg; and

the fourth group is a silymarin group.

Wherein the Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder is obtained by grindingAntrodia cinnamomea mycelium.

Except for the first group, the mice in each of the groups areintragastrically administered with 0.35 mL/20 g of 58% Kinmen KaoliangLiquor by body weight, and intoxication time (meaning the time frombeing conscious to lost of righting reflex) of the mice in each of thegroups is observed and recorded in order to calculate and obtainintoxication rates within 24 hours.

It can be known from the results that intoxication rates of the mice ineach of the groups are 100%, and none of the mice die; an averageintoxication time of the mice in the first group is 853.67±9.61 minutes;average intoxication time of the mice in the second group and the thirdgroup is 638.38±37.42 minutes and 458.25±55.89 minutes respectively; andan average intoxication time of the mice in the fourth group is453.75±34.19 minutes.

The above results show that the Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powderdisclosed in the invention does have an efficacy of dispelling theeffects of alcohol preventively, and when it reaches twice the dose, itsefficacy of dispelling the effects of alcohol preventively is similar tothat of the drug silymarin.

Example 6: Test (4) of Dispelling the Effects of Alcohol

A test method of this example is basically the same as that of example4, and grouping of the mice and their treatment conditions are the sameas those described in example 5. 30 minutes after alcohol solution isadministered, the mice are administered in a one-time administrationseparately. Time required for being sobered is recorded, and blood iscollected at 0, 60, 120, 240 and 360 minutes after alcohol is fed todetermine alcohol and acetaldehyde contents in the blood, the resultsare shown in Table 3 and Table 4 below.

It can be known from the experimental results that an averageintoxication time of the mice in the first group is 745.83±18.17minutes; average intoxication time of the mice in the second group andthe third group is 547.13±32.35 minutes and 340.63±34.45 minutesrespectively; and an average intoxication time of the mice in the fourthgroup is 328.38±35.52 minutes.

It can be known that administration of the Antrodia cinnamomea myceliumpowder disclosed in the invention after being fed with alcohol iscapable of reducing the intoxication time, which shows that the Antrodiacinnamomea mycelium powder disclosed in the invention does have anefficacy of dispelling the effects of alcohol therapeutically; and fromthe results in Table 3 and Table 4, it can be known that the Antrodiacinnamomea mycelium powder disclosed in the invention is capable ofreducing alcohol and acetaldehyde contents in blood, wherein when twicethe dose is administered, an efficacy of the Antrodia cinnamomeamycelium powder disclosed in the invention of reducing alcohol andacetaldehyde contents in blood is better than that of administration ofthe drug silymarin.

TABLE 3 alcohol content (mg/dL) in the blood of the mice (acutealcoholic mice) in each of the groups at different times after differenttreatments Time after feeding with alcohol (minutes) 0 60 120 240 360Group Alcohol content in blood (mg/dL) First group 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ±0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 Alcohol group 0.01 ± 0.00 0.94± 0.03 1.20 ± 0.06 1.07 ± 0.00 0.87 ± 0.04 Second group 0.02 ± 0.05  0.8± 0.01 1.01 ± 0.03 0.94 ± 0.04 0.75 ± 0.03 Third group 0.00 ± 001  0.41± 0.03  0.7 ± 0.06 0.72 ± 0.05 0.41 ± 0.04 Fourth group 0.00 ± 001  0.63± 0.07 0.91 ± 0.04 0.84 ± 0.04 0.58 ± 0.03

TABLE 4 acetaldehyde content (mg/dL) in the blood of the mice (acutealcoholic mice) in each of the groups at different times after differenttreatments Time after feeding with alcohol (minutes) 0 60 120 240 360Group Acetaldehyde content in blood (mg/dL) First group 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 Alcohol group 0.42 ± 0.864.12 ± 0.77 6.55 ± 1.11 5.59 ± 0.86 4.81 ± 0.28 Second group 0.34 ± 0.213.55 ± 0.64 5.68 ± 0.27 5.29 ± 0.73 4.55 ± 1.01 Third group 0.44 ± 0.232.72 ± 0.73 4.24 ± 0.98 3.72 ± 0.13 2.92 ± 1.19 Fourth group 0.38 ± 0.563.10 ± 0.73 4.71 ± 0.53 4.57 ± 0.21 3.58 ± 0.48

Example 7: Alcohol Metabolism Test

The mice are randomly divided into four groups, 12 in each of thegroups, wherein:

a Antrodia cinnamomea low-dose group: 1 ml of water is mixed with 1 foldof dose (82.5 mg/kg) of the Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder daily;

a Antrodia cinnamomea high-dose group: 1 ml of water is mixed with 2fold of dose (165 mg/kg) of the Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powderdaily;

a silymarin group: a silymarin dose of 40 mg/kg; and

a normal group and an alcohol group: 1 ml of water respectively.

After the mice in each of the groups are treated with the aboveconditions for 4 weeks, except for the normal group, each of the groupsis administered with 0.35 ml of alcohol/mouse (10 ml/kg+50% alcoholvolume daily converted based on surface areas of human body and mousebody), the alcohol group is administered with 0.35 ml of water/mousehalf an hour after being fed with alcohol, and the Antrodia cinnamomeahigh-dose group and the Antrodia cinnamomea low-dose group arerespectively administered with 0.35 ml of the Antrodia cinnamomeamycelium powder/mouse half an hour after being fed with alcohol. Afterthe experiments are done, liver form and conditions, body weight, andliver index of the mice in each of the groups are observed, as shown inTable 5 and FIG. 5.

Serum and liver biochemical values of the mice in each of the groups aretested, and the results are shown in Table 6. From the results in Table6, it can be known that triglycerides, GOT and GPT of the mice in thealcohol group have increased, and administration of the Antrodiacinnamomea mycelium powder disclosed in the invention is capable ofreducing triglycerides, GOT and GPT, and an effect of high dose isbetter, even better than an effect of the drug silymarin. Furthermore,alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase activities of themice in the alcohol group have decreased, and administration of theAntrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder disclosed in the invention iscapable of increasing the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase andacetaldehyde dehydrogenase, but administration of silymarin does nothave an efficacy of increasing the activities of alcohol dehydrogenaseand acetaldehyde dehydrogenase.

From the results in Table 7 and Table 8, it can be known that alcoholand acetaldehyde contents of the mice in the alcohol group are 1.15±0.01mg/dL and 6.80±0.37 mU/mL respectively when being fed with alcoholsolution at 120 minutes, which have increased in comparing with the micein the normal group, but after continuously taking the Antrodiacinnamomea powder disclosed in the invention for 30 days, both thealcohol and acetaldehyde contents decrease. At 120 minutes, alcoholcontents of the Antrodia cinnamomea powder low-dose group and theAntrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder high-dose group are 1.03±0.03 mg/dLand 0.81±0.04 mg/dL respectively, and acetaldehyde contents of theAntrodia cinnamomea powder low-dose group and the Antrodia cinnamomeamycelium powder high-dose group are 4.45±0.6 mU/mL and 3.49±0.48 mU/mLrespectively. At 360 minutes, alcohol contents of the Antrodiacinnamomea mycelium powder low-dose group and the Antrodia cinnamomeapowder high-dose group are 0.58±0.03 mg/dL and 0.37±0.05 mg/dLrespectively, and acetaldehyde contents of the Antrodia cinnamomeamycelium powder low-dose group and the Antrodia cinnamomea powderhigh-dose group are 3.30±0.30 mU/mL and 2.30±0.83 mU/mL respectively;the above results show that the Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powderdisclosed in the invention is capable of strengthening alcoholmetabolism, and with high doses, its alcohol metabolism effect isbetter, with an effect better than that of silymarin.

Referring to FIG. 6, in terms of SOD enzyme activity, liver SOD enzymeactivities of the mice fed with alcohol only have decreased, andadministration of the Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder disclosed inthe invention is capable of increasing the SOD enzyme activity. Whentwice the dose is administered, an activity of SOD enzyme in liver canbe increased by 34%, which is higher than 12% of the silymarin group.

TABLE 5 body weight and liver index of the mice in each of the groupsWeight (g) Liver index (%) Normal group  38.4 ± 2.08  5.7 ± 0.4 Alcoholgroup 37.91 ± 1.81 5.11 ± 0.4 Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium 37.63 ± 1.195.39 ± 0.3 powder low-dose group Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium 37.86 ±1.26 5.52 ± 0.4 powder high-dose group Silymarin group 37.93 ± 1.12 5.55± 0.4

TABLE 6 results of blood test of the mice in each of the groupsAspartate Alanine Alcohol Acetaldehyde Aminotransferase AminotransferaseDehydrogenase Dehydrogenase Triglycerides (GOT) (GPT) (ADH) (ALDH)Normal 99.38 ± 5.62 65.63 ± 6.98 40.38 ± 7.83 33.83 ± 1.49 33.83 ± 1.48group Alcohol 109.37 ± 16.13 77.88 ± 8.35 54.63 ± 8.3  32.66 ± 0.1832.22 ± 0.96 group Antrodia  92.5 ± 7.07 54.63 ± 4.87  31.13 ± 12.8039.38 ± 1.46 41.79 ± 2.03 cinnamomea mycelium powder low- dose groupAntrodia 89.37 ± 5.63 52.88 ± 7.61 29.38 ± 4.14 45.66 ± 2.68 45.66 ±2.67 cinnamomea mycelium powder high- dose group Silymarin  93.75 ±19.41  58.13 ± 13.62 33.88 ± 7.94 34.43 ± 0.99 34.58 ± 1.04 group

TABLE 7 alcohol content (mg/dL) in the blood of the mice in each of thegroups at different times after different treatments Time after feedingwith alcohol (minutes) 0 60 120 240 360 Group Alcohol content in blood(mg/dL) Normal 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ±0.00 group Alcohol 0.01 ± 0.00 0.78 ± 0.03 1.15 ± 0.01 1.05 ± 0.03 0.79± 0.06 group Antrodia 0.00 ± 0.00 0.59 ± 0.03 1.03 ± 0.03 0.86 ± 0.030.58 ± 0.03 cinnamomea mycelium powder low- dose group Antrodia 0.01 ±0.01 0.36 ± 0.07 0.81 ± 0.04 0.56 ± 0.06 0.37 ± 0.05 cinnamomea myceliumpowder high- dose group Silymarin 0.01 ± 0.01 0.47 ± 0.05 0.94 ± 0.010.75 ± 0.05 0.52 ± 0.03 group

TABLE 8 acetaldehyde content (mg/dL) in the blood of the mice in each ofthe groups at different times after different treatments Time afterfeeding with alcohol (minutes) 0 60 120 240 360 Group Acetaldehydecontent in blood (mg/dL) Normal 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 group Alcohol 0.47 ± 1.05 5.41 ± 0.72 6.80 ± 0.375.74 ± 0.36 4.84 ± 0.36 group Antrodia 0.39 ± 0.14 3.12 ± 0.18 4.45 ±0.60 3.95 ± 0.38 3.30 ± 0.30 cinnamomea mycelium powder low- dose groupAntrodia 0.52 ± 0.26 1.98 ± 0.92 3.49 ± 0.48 3.02 ± 0.66 2.30 ± 0.83cinnamomea mycelium powder high- dose group Silymarin 0.41 ± 0.22 2.43 ±0.47 4.02 ± 0.79 3.45 ± 0.95 2.83 ± 0.71 group

Example 8: Human Body Test

15 subjects are divided into three groups after taking alcoholicbeverages orally. The first group does not take any products fordispelling the effects of alcohol, and the second group and the thirdgroup take the water-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powder and itsaqueous-phase solution disclosed in the invention, respectively, whereina dose is 400 mg; and alcohol concentration in the breath of thesubjects in each of the groups is measured at 0, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180minutes after being administered. The results are shown in FIG. 7.

It can be known from the results in FIG. 7 that taking the water-solubleAntrodia cinnamomea powder disclosed in the invention after drinkingalcohol is capable of accelerating metabolism and decomposition ofalcohol, and reducing alcohol concentration in the body. Moreover, whentaking the water-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powder disclosed in theinvention being dissolved in water is capable of improving an efficiencyof dispelling the effects of alcohol.

From the results of the above examples, it can be known that theAntrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder disclosed in the invention does haveefficacies of enhancing alcohol metabolism and dispelling the effects ofalcohol preventively, and is also capable of improving an activity ofSOD enzymes in liver; and the water-soluble Antrodia cinnamomea powderobtained from the supercritically extracted Antrodia cinnamomea myceliumpowder disclosed in the invention is capable of achieving the same oreven better efficacies of metabolizing alcohol and dispelling theeffects of alcohol preventively at a lower dose; and therefore it can beknown that the Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder and its water-solublepowder disclosed in the invention can be used as effective ingredientsin a medical composition for treatment or prevention of intoxication andrelated liver diseases.

It is to be understood that the above description is only preferredembodiments of the present invention and is not used to limit thepresent invention, and changes in accordance with the concepts of thepresent invention may be made without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention, for example, the equivalent effects produced byvarious transformations, variations, modifications and applications madeto the configurations or arrangements shall still fall within the scopecovered by the appended claims of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for enhancing the metabolism of alcoholin a subject comprising administering an effective amount of Antrodiacinnamomea powder or composition thereof to a subject in need ofenhancing the metabolism of alcohol.
 2. The method as claimed in claim1, wherein the Antrodia cinnamomea powder or composition thereof istaken orally.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the effectiveamount of the Antrodia cinnamomea powder is at least 79.5 mg/day for anadult.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Antrodiacinnamomea powder is made according to following steps of: a. acquiringa Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder; b. mixing the Antrodia cinnamomeamycelium powder with a grease to form a Antrodia cinnamomea oil-phasesolution; c. preparing an aqueous-phase solution containing a water anda solute, the solute is selected from a group consisting ofwater-soluble salt, sugar and sugar ester; d. performing amicroemulsification procedure on the Antrodia cinnamomea oil-phasesolution and the aqueous-phase solution to obtain a Antrodia cinnamomeamicro-emulsified product; and e. freezing and drying the Antrodiacinnamomea micro-emulsified product to obtain the Antrodia cinnamomeapowder which is water-soluble.
 5. A method for treating or preventingacute alcoholism or liver disease caused by an elevated plasma alcohollevel in a subject comprising administering an effective amount ofAntrodia cinnamomea powder or composition thereof to a subject who hasan elevated plasma alcohol level, whereby the administration of Antrodiacinnamomea powder or composition thereof for increasing alcoholdehydrogenase, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase or SOD enzyme activity.
 6. Themethod as claimed in claim 5, wherein the Antrodia cinnamomea powder orcomposition thereof is taken orally.
 7. The method as claimed in claim5, wherein the effective amount of the Antrodia cinnamomea powder is atleast 79.5 mg/day for an adult.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 5,wherein the Antrodia cinnamomea powder is made according to followingsteps of: a. acquiring a Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder; b. mixingthe Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder with a grease to form a Antrodiacinnamomea oil-phase solution; c. preparing an aqueous-phase solutioncontaining a water and a solute, the solute is selected from a groupconsisting of water-soluble salt, sugar and sugar ester; d. performing amicroemulsification procedure on the Antrodia cinnamomea oil-phasesolution and the aqueous-phase solution to obtain a Antrodia cinnamomeamicro-emulsified product; and e. freezing and drying the Antrodiacinnamomea micro-emulsified product to obtain the Antrodia cinnamomeapowder which is water-soluble.
 9. A method for lowering the ethanolconcentration in blood of a subject comprising administering aneffective amount of Antrodia cinnamomea powder or composition thereof toa subject in need of reducing an adverse effect caused by an elevatedalcohol concentration in blood, whereby the administration of Antrodiacinnamomea powder or composition thereof for lowering the ethanolconcentration in blood.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 9, whereinthe Antrodia cinnamomea powder or composition thereof is taken orally.11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the effective amount ofthe Antrodia cinnamomea powder is at least 79.5 mg/day for an adult. 12.The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the Antrodia cinnamomea powderis made according to following steps of: a. acquiring a Antrodiacinnamomea mycelium powder; b. mixing the Antrodia cinnamomea myceliumpowder with a grease to form a Antrodia cinnamomea oil-phase solution;c. preparing an aqueous-phase solution containing a water and a solute,the solute is selected from a group consisting of water-soluble salt,sugar and sugar ester; d. performing a microemulsification procedure onthe Antrodia cinnamomea oil-phase solution and the aqueous-phasesolution to obtain a Antrodia cinnamomea micro-emulsified product; ande. freezing and drying the Antrodia cinnamomea micro-emulsified productto obtain the Antrodia cinnamomea powder which is water-soluble.